Chamber Music Program

Coaching session When you choose a chamber music workshop, especially for the first time, many questions may arise. What music will I be assigned? Whom will I be playing with? How much (or how little) free-lance ensemble playing can I do?

The good news for all attendees of the Conference is that you have several options for personalizing your chamber music experience, including:

Choosing coaching or auditing.
Choosing a large or small session.
Requesting a particular piece or pieces to work on, possibly with a pre-formed group of players.
Choosing from a variety of special coaching opportunities.
Participating in other musical activities.

Coaching and Auditing

You can choose whether to participate in coached ensembles, and if so, choose between two coaching formats. In both coaching formats, the coaching program features:

Careful matching of coached groups by interest and ability.
Assignment of works several weeks before the Conference, allowing you time for preparation. Participants are expected to have practiced their parts and studied the score by the time they arrive at the Conference.

Coaching Format for Week 0 — The format of the opening week, known as Week 0, enables participants to study chamber works in greater depth. Participants are assigned three pieces: one piece is coached for six afternoon sessions; and two pieces are coached for four sessions each, over three mornings and one evening. In addition, scheduled rehearsal times afford the opportunity for participants to assimilate the input from coaching sessions.

Coaching Format for Weeks 1, 2, and 3 — Participants in these weeks are assigned four different pieces per week and are coached on each piece for three mornings or afternoons. This coaching format leaves more time for informal ensemble playing. Weeks 1, 2, and 3 vary in instrumentation, enrollment, and special coaching opportunities, as described below.

Auditing (Weeks 1, 2, and 3) — Participants who want to play chamber music without being coached can enroll as auditors. During coaching periods, a special coordinator helps auditors form informal chamber music reading groups with other auditors, as well as with guest faculty members. Auditors may also choose to audit coaching sessions rather than play. Outside of coaching, auditors have the same opportunities as coached participants to play and to enjoy all other Conference activities. The Conference seeks an instrumental balance among the auditors each week.

Large and Small Sessions

If you’re looking for a quieter session with fewer participants, consider the Week 0 or Week 1, which usually enroll between 40 and 50 participants. If you like being around a lot of people and relish the idea of playing as much as you can with as many people as possible, you may prefer Weeks 2 and 3, which enroll 80 to 90 participants.

Coaching Requests and Pre-formed Groups

A major avenue for influencing your experience at the Conference is through coaching requests. After your application is accepted, you can submit a request form to describe your preferences regarding personnel and repertoire for your coached groups. The Conference welcomes and considers your input to an extent not matched in any other workshop.

Pre-formed groups — You can make a detailed request that specifies the piece and the players and suggests one or more coaches. In Week 0, participants can pre-form one of their three groups and can request a second pre-formed group, at lower priority, which will be accommodated if possible. In Weeks 1, 2, and 3, participants can pre-form two of their four groups.

General requests — You are also encouraged to express general preferences for your coached groups (for example, "I'd like be coached on Beethoven opus 132", "I'm interested in working with one of the following coaches: ...", or "I'd like to work on a piano trio").

Of course, not every request can be satisfied, but a remarkable level of consideration is given to all requests, and they are honored as much as possible.

Special Coaching Opportunities

Composer’s Forum (Weeks 1, 2, and 3) — In each of Weeks 1, 2, and 3, the Conference invites a Composer-in-Residence and a Composition Fellow to write works specifically for a group of Conference participants. If you are interested in working on a contemporary piece with its composer, you can request that one of your four assignments be such a group. The group will be coached by the Composer-in-Residence and will perform the commissioned work on a Participant Recital. See the Composers’ Forum page for more information.

Ensembles with a player/coach (Weeks 1, 2, and 3) — If you would like to be coached on a chamber work with faculty violinist Joel Berman as player/coach, you can request that this be one of your four assignments. This opportunity may be available to auditors as well as participants.

Instrumentation

Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Winds: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn
Piano
Harp (Weeks 2 and 3 only)
Voice (Weeks 2 and 3 only)

Participant enrollment for each instrument is limited to ensure a balanced program.

Chamber Music Program at a Glance

	Week 0	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3
Dates	July 15 - 22	July 22 - July 29	July 29 - August 5	August 5 - 12
Number of participants	40 to 50	40 to 50	80 to 90	80 to 90
Number of works coached	3	4	4	4
Coaching hours per work	6 to 9	4.5 to 6	4.5 to 6	4.5 to 6
Total coaching hours	21	21	21	21
Scheduled rehearsals	●
Coaching on commissioned works *		●	●	●
Coaching with a playing coach *		●	●	●

* For participants who indicate interest when applying.